BRIEFLY

Entertainment

CBS to Seek Money From Cable Companies: In a move that could lead to a multimillion-dollar showdown between cable and network television giants, CBS Inc. said it will seek money from cable operators for the rights to its broadcast signals. The move could mean that the network, now No. 1 in audience ratings, would not be seen on cable systems in some of the nation's biggest cities, including Los Angeles. Under federal law, cable systems cannot be forced to pay to retransmit the signals of broadcasters. Under the 1992 Cable Act, the owner of each TV station must decide whether it will seek a negotiated deal with cable operators or opt for the "must carry" rule enforced by the FCC. Under "must carry," a cable system would continue to get the local station for free but would have to put it on its system. The CBS decision affects only the seven stations owned by the company.